Ryanair said on Thursday it would cut 17 routes from its winter schedule at its Dublin hub and deploy 19 new Boeing 737 MAX planes to other European airports that offer incentives for quieter, lower CO2-emitting aircraft.
Ryanair plans to fly some of its new MAX planes, which Boeing says use 15-20% less fuel and emit 40% less noise, to airports in Spain and Italy, as well as Britain’s Luton Airport, he said in Ryanair executive Eddie Wilson press conference. .
The Irish airline, Europe’s largest by passenger volume, cited increased passenger charges from Dublin Airport Authority and a failure to deliver a “substantial” environmental incentive program as motivation for the decision.
UNITED AIRLINES FLIGHT TO ROME DIVERTS BACK TO NEWARK, FALLS 28,000 FEET IN 10 MINUTES
Ryanair Boeing 737-8AS aircraft lands at Riga International Airport, Latvia on July 21, 2022. (REUTERS/Ints Kalnins)
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Dublin Airport Authority said in a statement that Ryanair had exaggerated the size of the increased charges and that the authority was consulting with airlines on a proposed scheme to incentivize lower-emission aircraft in 2024.
It said Dublin Airport’s passenger numbers have recovered to pre-pandemic levels and there is no need to incentivize new development given a capacity limit under the airport’s planning permission.
Ryanair often cuts capacity from airports during fee disputes and usually allocates aircraft to airports and regions that offer the best growth incentives.
